Town of Victoria Park looking to strengthen relationships with small business

THE Town of Victoria Park is looking to ramp up its support of the small business community after signing up to a new initiative to foster better relationships.

Small Business Minister Sean L’Estrange and Local Government Minister Tony Simpson visited Victoria Park cafe Antz Inya Pantz yesterday to launch the Small Business Friendly Local Governments initiative.

The project was developed by the Small Business Development Corporation with Town of Victoria Park being one of four local governments to sign up along with the Cities of Armadale, Gosnells and Joondalup.

The councils have signed up to a charter which includes offering better customer service, reducing red tape and introducing other activities to improve the operating environment for small businesses in their area.

Mr L’Estrange said the initiative was about getting the local governments to sign up to the charter, which helped the councils to be more focused on the needs of small businesses.

“A charter which encourages local governments to support small businesses is not something that should be underestimated,” he said.

“Small businesses in Western Australia represent 214,000 businesses; these businesses represent $44 billion and they employ almost half of the private sector workforce.

“Small business is critical to the economy of WA and the initiative encourages local governments to get involved with small businesses and help them.”

Antz Inya Pantz owner Craig Muzeroll said the Town of Victoria Park had increasingly been supportive of small businesses in recent times compared to when he opened his first store in September 2006.

“We opened our fourth location in Victoria Park earlier this year and it only took one month between approval and the café opening because the council was so easy to work with,” he said.

“It means that we can put people to work and start paying people’s salaries quicker.

“I think there has been a dramatic transformation in how the Town of Victoria Park deals with small business because I feel like they want to work together more now.”

Town of Victoria Park Mayor Trevor Vaughan said there were some fantastic small businesses in the town and the council had a good relationship with the owners.